BJH - volume 13, issue 5, september 2022
M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD
The 30th EHA meeting was held in Vienna in June 2022, an opportunity to meet again with colleagues from all over the world after two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We selected ten abstracts featuring clinical advances and novel treatment approaches across hematologic diseases, abstracts that will probably change our daily practice in the near future.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):214–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 12, issue 8, december 2021
N. Meuleman MD, PhD, J. Caers MD, PhD, K. Fostier MD, P. Vlummens MD, S. Pans MD, L. Goethals MD, PhD, J. Alexiou MD, M. Cliquennois MD, C. Doyen MD, PhD, A. de Weweire MD, R. Schots MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD
Despite major improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), bone damage remains a major feature of this disease. With the development of new diagnostic tools, conventional skeletal studies have been progressively replaced by novel imaging techniques. Today, imaging plays a crucial role in defining symptomatic multiple myeloma, measurement of the extent of skeletal involvement and assessing therapeutic response including minimal residual disease (MRD). Based on an extensive review of the recent literature, we propose an array of Belgian recommendations for myeloma imaging to be used as a reference by haematologists in their daily practice.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(8):338–43)
Read moreBJH - volume 12, issue 5, september 2021
M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the second consecutive year, the 26th Annual EHA Meeting turned to a full virtual edition. Despite the fact that we were not able to meet and share this event with our colleagues, the content of this edition was outstanding, with many live sessions covering numerous haematological innovations. We selected twelve interesting abstracts that will probably change our daily practice in the near future.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):230-9)
Read moreBJH - 2021, issue 2, march 2021
M. Beckers MD, PhD, S. Sid MD, A. De Becker MD, B. Heyrman MD, N. Granacher MD, D. Mazure MD, S. Meers MD, PhD, M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD, On behalf of the other members of MDS and MPN committee
Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is a rare haematological disease. Hallmark of the diagnosis is chronic monocytosis. Other clinical features include cytopenia, dysplasia with the associated complaints like fatigue or leucocytosis, splenomegaly with constitutional symptoms. Predicting prognosis and choosing the correct treatment can be challenging for the clinician. These guidelines cover the diagnosis and treatment of CMML and provide information on morphology, cytogenetics and molecular testing, clinical features including autoimmune manifestations, prognosis and risk assessment and a treatment algorithm for both the fit and unfit CMML patient.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;12(2):66-76)
Read moreBJH - volume 12, issue 1, february 2021
M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a very heterogeneous group of clonal disorders of hematopoietic stem cells that are associated with cytopenias and a propensity to evolve to AML. In the recent years, significant progresses have been achieved to better understand the diversity of clinical, cytogenetic, molecular and immunological factors that are bound to the prognosis and outcome of patients with MDS. Their implementation into conventional risk stratification models should further refine patient subgroups, improve predictive value for survival and provide a next-generation classification and prognostic system for these patients, in order to assist personal treatment decision.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(1):38-46)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 8, december 2020
M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD, J. Morelle MD, PhD
Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) represents a heterogeneous group of diseases in which a monoclonal immunoglobulin, secreted by a plasma or B-cell clone with no evidence of malignancy, causes renal damage. As MGRS patients have a high risk of developing permanent kidney damage, adequate diagnosis and treatment are required to preserve kidney function. In this review, we address the definition, mechanisms and classification of MGRS, and discuss how patients with suspected MGRS should be evaluated and managed.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(8):376-80)
Read moreBJH - volume 11, issue 8, december 2020
M-C. Vekemans MD, PhD, C. Doyen MD, PhD, K.L. Wu MD, A. Kentos MD, PhD, P. Mineur MD, L. Michaux MD, PhD, J. Caers MD, PhD, N. Meuleman MD, PhD, M. Delforge MD, PhD, On behalf of the BHS Myeloma Subgroup
With the introduction of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and anti-CD38 monoclonal anti-bodies, major improvements have been achieved in the treatment and outcome of multiple myeloma (MM). Different treatment combinations are now in use and other therapies are being developed. This rapidly changing therapeutic landscape urges for an update on practical guidelines. Based on an extensive review of the recent literature, we propose recommendations on myeloma management, to be used by haematologists as a reference for daily practice.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(8):357-75)
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